Key Takeaways
- Start by emptying everything — you cannot organize what you cannot see, and most people find expired or duplicate products hiding under the sink.
- Check for leaks and moisture damage first — the under-sink cabinet is the most leak-prone area in the kitchen.
- Use stackable bins, a tension rod, and shelf risers — these three inexpensive items transform the space.
- Group items by purpose — cleaning supplies together, dishwashing supplies together, trash bags together.
- Keep only what you use regularly — extra stock and rarely used items belong elsewhere.
The cabinet under the kitchen sink is one of the most used and most disorganized spaces in any home. It is an awkward shape, has pipes running through it, and becomes a dumping ground for cleaning products, trash bags, sponges, and random items that do not have a home anywhere else.
The result is a mess that makes it hard to find what you need, hides leaks until they cause damage, and wastes money because you buy duplicates of products buried in the back. Organizing this space takes about 30-45 minutes and costs under $30 in storage supplies — and the results last for months.
Step 1: Empty Everything Out
Pull every single item out of the cabinet and spread it on the kitchen floor or counter. This is the only way to see what you actually have. Most people are surprised by what they find:
- Three half-empty bottles of the same cleaner
- Products they bought once and never used again
- Expired or crusty products that should have been tossed months ago
- Rags and sponges that are past their useful life
- Random items that do not belong there at all (tools, batteries, takeout menus)
Step 2: Clean and Inspect the Cabinet
With the cabinet empty, this is your chance to check for problems and start fresh.
Check for Leaks
Run the faucet and the disposal (if you have one) while watching the pipes and connections underneath. Look for:
- Drips at pipe connections
- Moisture on the bottom of the cabinet
- Warped, soft, or discolored wood — signs of past or ongoing leaks
- Mold or mildew growth
Fix any leaks before organizing. A slow leak under the sink can cause significant damage and create mold problems that are expensive to remediate.
Clean the Surface
- Wipe down the entire interior with an all-purpose cleaner
- Pay attention to the bottom — sticky residue from spilled products is common
- Let it dry completely before putting anything back
- Consider lining the bottom with a waterproof shelf liner or a silicone mat — this protects the cabinet floor from future spills and makes cleaning easier
Step 3: Sort and Purge
Go through every item you pulled out and sort into three groups:
Keep
- Products you use at least monthly
- Items that specifically belong under the sink (dish soap, sponges, cleaning sprays you use in the kitchen)
- Trash bags and replacement bags for the kitchen can
Relocate
- Extra stock or bulk items — store these in a pantry, laundry room, or garage
- Cleaning supplies used primarily in other rooms (bathroom cleaner, furniture polish) — move them closer to where you use them
- Items that do not belong under the sink at all
Discard
- Expired products (check labels — many cleaners lose effectiveness over time)
- Crusty, leaking, or nearly empty bottles
- Products you tried once and disliked
- Worn-out sponges, brushes, and rags
- Duplicate products — consolidate into one container where possible
Most people discard or relocate 30-50% of what was under their sink. That alone makes the space more manageable.
Step 4: Set Up Your Organization System
The space under the sink has two challenges: the pipes take up room in the center, and the cabinet is deep, which means things get lost in the back. Here is how to work with both constraints.
Tension Rod for Spray Bottles
Install a tension rod across the upper part of the cabinet, above the pipes. Hang spray bottles from it by their triggers. This uses vertical space that would otherwise be wasted and keeps spray bottles visible and accessible.
Stackable Bins or Pull-Out Organizers
Use small stackable bins or a two-tier shelf riser to create levels. Group items by category:
- Bin 1: Dish care — extra dish soap, dishwasher pods, rinse aid
- Bin 2: Cleaning supplies — all-purpose cleaner refill, sponges, scrub brushes
- Bin 3: Trash and bags — kitchen trash bags, recycling bags, grocery bag stash
Shelf Riser or Small Rack
A small shelf riser on one side of the cabinet creates two levels of storage in the same footprint. Put frequently used items on top and less-used items below.
Cabinet Door Storage
The inside of the cabinet door is free storage space. Use adhesive hooks or a small over-door organizer to hold:
- Rubber gloves
- Small scrub brushes
- Measuring cups for cleaning solutions
- A list of your cleaning product inventory (so you know what to restock)
Step 5: Maintain the System
An organized under-sink area stays organized if you follow a few simple rules:
- Put things back in their assigned spot every time — the bins make this easy because items have a clear home.
- Do a quick check monthly — toss empties, consolidate duplicates, wipe up any spills.
- Restock before you run out — keep a running list of what needs replacing.
- Resist the urge to overfill — if the space is getting cramped, something needs to be relocated or discarded.
What Should (and Should Not) Live Under the Kitchen Sink
| Store Here | Store Elsewhere |
|---|---|
| Dish soap and dishwasher supplies | Bulk/extra stock of cleaning products |
| Kitchen-specific cleaners (counter spray, degreaser) | Bathroom or bedroom cleaning supplies |
| Sponges, scrub brushes, dish cloths | Tools, batteries, miscellaneous items |
| Kitchen trash bags | Seasonal or specialty cleaners |
| Rubber gloves | Hazardous chemicals (store up high, away from food) |
| One all-purpose cleaner | Pest control products |
A Small Space, A Big Difference
Organizing under the kitchen sink is one of those small projects that has an outsized impact on your daily life. You stop wasting time digging for supplies, you catch leaks early, and you stop buying products you already have. Thirty minutes and a few bins — that is all it takes.
If the under-sink chaos is part of a bigger kitchen organization challenge, tackling it first gives you momentum. And if you want a professional to handle the deep cleaning while you handle the organizing, Otesse's kitchen deep clean pairs well with a weekend organization session.
